Article

5 Tips for Tackling Bad Spending Habits

Improving spending habits helps you achieve financial stability and security. These 5 simple strategies can help you take effective steps towards improving your spending habits and developing long-run habits that can help you be more intentional with your goals to build a better financial future.

September 3, 2024
Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

All of us have bad spending habits that we would like to change in order to take better control of our finances. Let’s explore five specific strategies for improving spending habits and achieving real financial stability.

Create A Budget

The first step in improving your spending habits is to create a budget. This involves tracking your income and expenses to determine where your money is going each month. Once you have a clear understanding of your spending habits, you can identify areas where you may be overspending and make adjustments accordingly.

Cut Back on Discretionary Spending

One of the most effective ways to improve your spending habits is to cut back on discretionary spending. This includes things like eating out, entertainment, and impulse purchases. By setting limits on these types of expenses, you can free up money to put towards more important financial goals, such as paying off debt or saving for retirement.

Use Cash

Another strategy for improving your spending habits is to use cash for discretionary purchases. This can help you avoid overspending and keep better track of your expenses. When you have a limited amount of cash on hand, you are forced to make more intentional and thoughtful purchases.

Avoid High-Interest Debt

High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can be a major obstacle to achieving financial stability. If you have outstanding balances on credit cards or other high-interest loans, make paying them off a top priority. This may involve making sacrifices in the short term, but it will pay off in the long run by reducing your overall debt burden and freeing up money for other financial goals.

Seek Professional Help

If you are struggling with bad spending habits or other financial challenges, don't be afraid to seek professional help. Financial advisors, credit counselors, and other financial experts can provide guidance and support to help you improve your finances and achieve your goals.

Improving spending habits is an important step towards achieving financial stability and security – so you can take control of your finances and build a better financial future.

Other content you may like

  • Becoming a Financially Savvy Single Parent

    Becoming a Financially Savvy Single Parent

    March 12, 2023
    Providing for your family, on your own, doesn’t have to feel like a never-ending cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. Even though there are challenges with the work involved in earning a living and care for children, your finances can be managed with very careful planning and even allow you to save for the future.
    Read this Article
  • Millennials Money Mistakes

    10 Money Mistakes Millennials Should Avoid

    March 2, 2021
    Many millennial households are on their way to building substantial wealth. They can help themselves over the long term by avoiding several key errors. Here are the 10 most common millennial money mistakes as observed by a wealth advisor.
    Read this Article
  • Large Cap Stock Outperformance

    Large Cap Stock Outperformance

    August 1, 2024
    Large cap stock performance is catching up with the last big technology advancement in the 1990’s, making the 3-year outperformance of large cap stocks over small cap stocks the largest since Dec 1999. A look at stock market performance concentration showing up internationally, and a comparison of Inflation to the Fed funds rate, and more.
    Read this Article
  • How to Help Aging Parents

    How to Help Aging Parents

    November 30, 2021
    Preparing for the potential decline of financial capacity to manage your finances in your own best interest, is as important as planning for long-term-care expenses or keeping your estate plan up to date. This article gives practical steps to prepare and plan ahead.
    Read this Article
  • The link you have selected is located on another server. The linked site contains information that has been created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of this organization. We do not endorse, approve, certify, or control any linked websites, their sponsors, or any of their policies, activities, products, or services. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained therein. Visitors to any linked websites should not use or rely on the information contained therein until they have consulted with an independent financial professional. Please click “Continue to Link” to leave this website and proceed to the selected site.
    phone-handset